Effective rainwater harvesting can be successful in California if we learn to reduce our outdoor water needs in rural and urban residential settings. The greatest drawback is the length of the dry season in California. Adapting to more focused irrigation methods, choosing outdoor vegetation that use less water and supplementing outdoor watering with water reuse can produce a victory for all Californians. The added benefit is on-demand water that can be used to fight fire. Incorporating rainwater harvesting can be a game changer that erases today’s domestic drought casualties.